Danish orchid populations

Orchid database: Monitoring of Danish orchids

Monitoring orchids and their habitats already started in 1943, at which time Buderupholm State Forest District initiated a count of the local population of Lady’s slipper orchids (Cypripedium calceolus). In 1982, the monitoring of other species began. Since then, all 45 wild Danish orchids have been monitored for short or long periods, e.g. depending on changes of habitat or disappearing populations.

Species that are present in most parts of the country are monitored at selected sites, while species that are present in only 10 or fewer locations are monitored virtually all the places they grow.

Orchids are protected, which means that the plants may not be harmed, excavated or harvested. However, you may admire them in nature. Some orchids place high demands on their habitat and have a complex relationship with fungi. Other species are able to exist in different locations and are common in most parts of the country.

When you activate one of the names of a Danish species in the orchid menu (in Danish), the monitoring sites for each species are listed. When the name of a locality is activated, a bar graph of the annual counts will be displayed.

Orchids on the Redlist

21 of 46 orchids, i.e. 45%, are redlisted. This means that they either are extinct (3 orchids), critically endangered (3 orchids), moderately endangered (8 orchids) or vulnerable (7 orchids). See the website of The Danish Redlist.